Words You Need to Know for the Midterm
Be prepared to use these words in sentences:
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Evanescent (adj)- Fleeting, momentary, short-lived (Synonyms: brief, temporary)
Utopia (noun)- an ideal place, paradise
Fortuitous (adj)- accidental; by chance; lucky
Sporadic (adj)- intermittent, inconsistent, infrequent
Efface (verb)- to wipe out, to destroy; to wear away (synonyms: eradicate, obliterate,
erode, eliminate)
6. Benevolent (adj)- showing compassion, extending goodwill, giving (synonyms: generous,
caring)
7. Candid (adj)- open, honest, frank
8. Rhetoric (noun)- speech; speech or language that is embellished or inflated (synonyms:
oratory, propaganda)
9. Irrefutable (adj)- undeniable, having no argument against, impossible to refute
10. Cajole (verb)- coax, wheedle, nag (synonyms: persuade, convince)
11. Disseminate (verb)- to spread, as one might do with seeds (synonyms: broadcast,
distribute, scatter, publicize, propagate)
12. Innate (adj)- inborn, acquired naturally, inherent (antonyms: learned, rehearsed)
13. Salubrious (adj)- healthy, wholesome, beneficial to one’s health
14. Paltry (adj)- measly, trivial, of a small amount (synonyms: slight, trifling, negligible,
scant, scarce/antonyms: ample, plenty, abundant)
15. Dulcet (adj): having a soothing or melodious sound
You will be expected to match these words from “First Love” with their definitions:
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intrepid (adj)- resolutely fearless; dauntless (not intimidated)
eminence (noun)- high station or rank; a high place or part
pliant (adj)- bending readily; flexible; easily influenced
virtuous (adj)- conforming to moral and ethical principles; upright; morally excellent
forbade (verb)- past tense of forbid (to command not to do something)
evanescent (adj)- vanishing; fading away; fleeting
gluttonously (adv)- tending to eat and drink excessively; greedy
unrequited (adj)- not returned or reciprocated
extravaganza (noun)- an elaborate and fantastic show
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hysteria (noun)- uncontrollable emotion or fear
disdain (noun)- a feeling of scorn
mesmerizing (verb)- hypnotizing
enthralled (verb)- captivated or fascinated
inexorable (adj)- unyielding; not to be persuaded
You will also need to know what these terms are and how to apply them:
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Simile- a comparison between two unlike things, using the word like or as
Metaphor- a comparison between two unlike things in which one thing is said to be another
Hyperbole- extreme exaggeration used for emphasis, often used for comic effect
Sensory Language- language that appeal to or evoke one or more of the five senses--sight,
sound, smell, taste, touch
Diction-the writer’s choice of words; a stylistic element that helps convey voice and tone
Imagery- the verbal expression of sensory experience; descriptive or figurative language
used to create word pictures; imagery is created by details that appeal to one or more of the
five senses
Tone- a writer’s or speaker’s attitude toward a subject
Voice- the way a writer or speaker uses words and tone to express ideas as well as his or her
personas
Syntax- the arrangement of words and the order of grammatical elements in a sentence; the
way in which words are put together to make meaningful elements, such as phrases,
clauses, and sentences
Protagonist- the central character in a work of literature, the one who is involved in the
main conflict in the plot
Antagonist- the character who opposes or struggles again the main character
Narrator- person telling the story
Prose- ordinary written or spoken language using sentences and paragraphs, without
deliberate or regular meter or rhyme; not poetry or song
Elements of an Argument- hook, claim, concessions & refutations, support
Advertising Techniques- facts & figures, avant-garde, bandwagon, testimonial, transfer
Rhetorical Appeals- Pathos, Ethos, Logos